Christmas is approaching and all of us Boro fans know what that means.

Yes, the annual festive meeting with Man Utd will soon be upon us. In past years that meeting has been notable for Boro victories but also constant public address warnings about United fans' inability to take to their seats.

This has cost United fans dear with our local authority reducing their seat allocation. A recent report by Trafford Borough Council could, and perhaps should, spark a total rethink.

The council under whose jurisdiction the Premiership's largest ground capacity falls found some surprising results when they investigated the safety of standing in all-seater stadia.

The least safe form of standing at games is the sudden movement of fans from their seats at times of excitement. When Viduka cracked home that second on Monday night everyone was up out of their seats from North Stand to Director's Box. It's a reflex action.

In football speak, jumping out of your seat is part and parcel of the passion of the game.

The second most risky form of standing is from those annoying supporters who can't wait till half-time for a drink or have to beat the rush at the end of the game.

The safest form is described as where fans stand "passively during the game". The very area that, nationally, football licensing, safety officers and local authorities are clamping down on.

A new counter-movement is building momentum. Even the CEO of Leicester City recently backed the campaign for passive standing in front of seats.

If we set aside areas where people could stand in front of their seats for longer periods it would add to the atmosphere and sift out the standers from the sitters.

In other words, improve the matchday experience for all and importantly, according to the latest findings, not compromise safety.

Do have a look on www.standupsitdown.co.uk to read through the issues and proposed solutions. The Stand Up Sit Down Campaign has been granted a meeting with the Football Licensing Authority in January.

Perhaps it's time to stop standing on ceremony and allow fans a little more vertical leeway.

* Robert Nichols is editor of the Boro fanzine Fly M To The Moon, which is on sale before all Boro home games. The fanzine also has its own website: www.fmttm.com